RevitalizationofRivers In IndiaDraftPolicy Recommendation Longevity is another important issue favouring native breeds, despite their apparently low milk yield. With the promise of short-term productivity, many rural farmers prefer crossbreeds, rather than locally adapted livestock. But the morbidity and mortality of non-native animals is high because they are poorly adapted to the local climate, and are vulnerable to local diseases. For example, Holstein Friesian crossbred cows threatened by Foot and Mouth disease causes wasting and death in up to a million livestock animals each year. Cows of the native breed carry genetic resistance to the disease. A 2012 report by Kerala state Animal Husbandry Department stated that the State’s new breeding policy limited exotic [that is, non-native] germplasm to 50 percent of cattle and encourages propagating of native breeds by adopting artificial insemination programs with the semen of native bulls. It also stated that the milk of the Vechur breed has medicinal qualities recorded by Ayurveda ages ago. In more recent times, studies at the Kerala Agricultural University have also shown the percentage of fats and total solids of the Vechur cow to be higher than those found in crossbred cows. The smaller size of the fat globules in the Vechur’s milk makes it more suitable for infants and the sick. Hence, maintaining the genetic diversity of traditional livestock breeds is a more urgent problem in developing countries than it is in developed nations. 6. POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROTECTING AND IMPROVING NATIVE LIVESTOCK We need to develop emergency plans for endangered breeds in the case of epidemic outbreaks, and build up gene banks for native livestock. We need to encourage more breeders to take part in conservation programmes. Striking a balance between traditional genetic adaptations and modern productivity traits is essential for future livestock breeding programmes. An optimal breed is one that is well adapted to local conditions, able to feed mostly on available (fodder) resources, and able to produce quality products. To conserve the genetic resources of native livestock: Annexures 667

RevitalizationofRivers In IndiaDraftPolicy Recommendation Average daily milk yield (kg) per animal per day 8 6.49 6.74 6.87 6 4.45 4.52 4.57 4 2 2.1 2.13 2.14 0 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Crossbred Indigenous Buffalos (1) it is necessary to keep them in the form of live animals and/or (2) in the form of sperm, oocytes, embryos, cells, chromosomes and genes that can be stored by applying cryogenic techniques. Each method has some advantages and disadvantages. Cryogenic samples which are collected and frozen can be permanently preserved and, except for accidents within the storage system, they remain available under the same conditions as those at the time of sampling, any time in the future. Although it is expensive to initiate frozen collections, once they have become established, the cost associated with equipment maintenance, such as liquid nitrogen supply, is low. Live animal conservation has a number of advantages over frozen cryopreservation for the following reasons: (I) cultural-historical reasons (2) the opportunity to investigate topical or new traits in the population all the time. (3) maintaining people’s awareness of the existence of the breeds and interest in the frozen materials (Obata and Takeda, 1993). • As a variety of native livestock have played important roles in the history and development of their respective area of origin, these breeds should be conserved. 668 Annexures